Improvement in metallic mattings



L.v WILKINSON.

Metallic-Mattings.

Patented Aug. 4, 1874.-'

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

LEWIs WILKINSON, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR To HENRY E. ROEDER, O NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC MATTINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,735, dated August 4, 1874; application filed April 7, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIs WILKINSON, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Metallic Matting, of which the following is a description This invention relates to mattings for doors, steps, and other places exposed to changes of the weather, as well as for floors of railroadcars and public conveyances and has for its object to produce a matting which shall be strong, durable, cheap, and always dry if the feet rest upon the same for any length of time, and which shall not become slippery from snow or ice; consequently affording, under all circumstances, a firm footing. It consists in the combination of a number of very thin iron bars, commonly called band-iron, bent wave-shaped or corrugated, and fastened together by rivets, forming a connected Web and exposing the edges of the band-iron to scrape the feet on and to rest upon.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I represents a top view, and Fig. II a section at line .70 w, of a matting embodying my invention.

A A are very thin strips of iron, generally called band or hoop iron, bent wave-like or corrugated, and fastened to each other by rivets n n, forming, when combined, a web with very large openings, and exposing only the edges of the band-irons for the surface to stand upon and to scrape the feet on when required. This web is inclosed by a similar iron band, fastened to the strips A by rivets or otherwise, but I prefer to make this outer band B of thicker material. The holes through which the rivets a 1 pass should be larger than the diameter of the rivets, to give some slightelasticity to the matting to accommodate itself to any unevenness of the floor.

Instead of rivets, tongues may be punched out on every alternate band A entering holes in the adjoining band, which said tongues, when passed through said holes and bent over, will give the necessary fastening between the same. A matting of this construction cannot collect any moisture, will allow all dirt from the feet to fall readily between the openings, and is very readily cleaned. As it exposes only the sharp edges to tread upon, it will always afford a firm footing, and will not become slippery from moisture or from snow or ice.

I am aware that gratings for windows and other purposes have been similarly constructed and arranged, and therefore do not claim this construction generally but What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The metallic matting herein described, consisting of the curved strips A A and outer band B, the said strips and bands being secured by rivets, substantially as herein set forth.

LEWIS WILKINSON.

Witnesses HENRY E. ROEDER, A. E. OoLLINs. 

